# Kentucky SB 155: AN ACT relating to animal health emergencies and declaring an emergency. Kentucky SB 155, AN ACT relating to animal health emergencies and declaring an emergency., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Jared Carpenter (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-03 (signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 17)) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB155-2026RS - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Kentucky SB 155 - State: Kentucky - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT relating to animal health emergencies and declaring an emergency. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-02-03 - Last action: 2026-04-03, signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 17) - Sponsor: Jared Carpenter (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Agriculture, Animals, Livestock, And Poultry, Diseases, Fish And Wildlife, Governor, Local Government, Peace Officers And Law Enforcement, Police, State, Public Protection, Special Districts, State Agencies, Transportation, Veterinarians, Local Mandate - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 3 (169 yes, 1 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Faster vet help and transport waivers: benefit, medium. During an animal health emergency, the Commissioner can buy, rent, or contract for needed goods and services right away. Normal procurement rules do not apply when needed to stop disease or keep essential services running. The Commissioner can contract with licensed veterinarians and vet techs from… - No emergency limits on guns or worship: benefit, low. The law does not let emergency powers add new limits on lawful guns or ammunition. It also does not allow limits on free speech, press, petition, assembly, or the right to worship. These protections apply during a declared emergency. - New rules for animal disease outbreaks: mixed, medium. The Agriculture Commissioner, after consulting the state veterinarian, can declare an animal health emergency in writing. During the emergency, the Commissioner may quarantine livestock, poultry, other domesticated animals, and equipment that can spread disease. The Commissioner may set roadblocks… - Religious groups can sue for relief: mixed, low. A religious organization can sue a government entity for covered emergency‑protection violations. It does not have to finish any agency process first. The law waives sovereign, governmental, and qualified immunity for these claims. A court can grant orders, money damages for losses, and reasonable… - What counts as a COVID-19 order: mixed, low. The law explains what counts as an official COVID-19 executive action. It includes orders and guidelines from the Governor, state or local agencies, the President, or federal agencies, and industry guidelines adopted by a state agency. Informal or vague statements and recommendations do not count.… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Jared Carpenter (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-25 | Senate | passed | pass | 37 | 1 | | | 2026-03-24 | House | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 94 | 0 | | | 2026-02-12 | Senate | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 38 | 0 | | ## Actions (24) - 2026-04-03: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 17) - 2026-03-25: delivered to Governor - 2026-03-25: enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House (Senate) - 2026-03-25: enrolled, signed by President of the Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-25: passed 37-1 (Senate) - 2026-03-25: Senate concurred in Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) (Senate) - 2026-03-25: posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) (House) - 2026-03-25: taken from Rules (Senate) - 2026-03-25: to Rules (S) (Senate) - 2026-03-25: received in Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-24: 3rd reading, passed 94-0 with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) (House) - 2026-03-19: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 20 2026 (House) - 2026-03-19: 2nd reading, to Rules (House) - 2026-03-18: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) (House) - 2026-03-12: to Agriculture (H) (House) - 2026-02-13: to Committee on Committees (H) (House) - 2026-02-13: received in House (House) - 2026-02-12: 3rd reading, passed 38-0 (Senate) - 2026-02-11: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, February 12 2026 (Senate) - 2026-02-11: 2nd reading, to Rules (Senate) - 2026-02-10: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar (Senate) - 2026-02-06: to Agriculture (S) (Senate) - 2026-02-03: to Committee on Committees (S) (Senate) - 2026-02-03: introduced in Senate (Senate) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-03-25: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb155/bill.pdf) - Introduced, 2026-02-12: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb155/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 197: AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agencies and institutions, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergen… (became law) - SB 133: AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities. (signed) - HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency. (signed) - SB 324: AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry. (signed) - SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle. (signed) - HB 826: AN ACT relating to education. (signed) ## Sources - [Current (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb155/bill.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb155/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related - [SB 197: AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agenc…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB197-2026RS) - [SB 133: AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB133-2026RS) - [HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB869-2026RS) - [SB 324: AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB324-2026RS) - [SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB66-2026RS) - [HB 826: AN ACT relating to education.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB826-2026RS) - [Kentucky bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky/bills) - [Kentucky state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB155-2026RS (as of 2026-11-01).